Employers add 321K jobs in November; unemployment flat

While employers added 321,000 jobs across the nation last month, the November unemployment rate was flat at 5.8 percent compared to October.

The number of unemployed, 9.1 million, also was flat month to month, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics news release.

During November, nonfarm payroll employment increases were observed in the professional and business services, retail trade, health care and manufacturing industries.

Employers in professional and business services added 86,000 jobs in November, besting an average gain of 57,000 per month during the prior 12 months. Within the industry, accounting and bookkeeping services increased by 16,000, temporary help services improved by 23,000, and management and technical consulting services rose 7,000, according to the release.

Retail trade employers increased by 50,000 jobs in November, led by 11,000 jobs added in motor vehicles and parts dealers and 11,000 in clothing and accessories stores.

The health care industry experienced a 29,000-job bump last month, with physicians’ offices adding 7,000, home health care services, 5,000, outpatient care centers, 4,000, and hospitals, 4,000, the release said.

November brought 28,000 new jobs in manufacturing. Durable goods manufacturers hired another 17,000 to lead the pack.

The most recent data puts the Missouri unemployment rate at 5.9 percent in October and the Springfield metropolitan statistical area jobless rate at 5.1 percent in September, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.